Beer: Ratings & Reviews

Reviews by microbrewlover:

This brew pours an opaque brown color with a low white head and light lacing. Medium to heavy carbonation.

The smell is thick roasted and sweet malts. Nutty with a little bit of chocolate and/or espresso.

The taste follows the nose with the thick malts dominating, then nuts and espresso, maybe some light chocolate. Light peppery hops on the the back end and just the tiniest bit of alcohol seeping through. The taste gets better as the beer warm up.

The mouthfeel is thick and filling. It is just a little tangy due to the medium to high carbonation.

Overall this is not bad for a winter warmer/brown ale. It is about average, maybe just above. I would say try it and see what you think.

Festivus is dark brown with some red-brown highlights. The wispy head forms a loose cap that fades pretty quickly, though some light brown foam is always left at the edges. The foam manages some surprisingly decent patching, considering, as well as leaving a thin ring where the beer settles in the glass.The nose provides good spicing, some allspice with a almost bit of a ginger/nutmeg sort of combo, and a mild sweetness over a sturdy malts foundation. Vanilla is subtle, but it's there.This beer gets the spicing levels right; they're as strong as they could be without being overpowering. That said, my only complaint is that they're sort of generic on the tongue. The sweetness is very brief, and a sort of dark breads flavor anchors it. A mild slightly leafy but more earthy bitterness speaks to the addition of hops. The feel is good. Crispness and smoothness are even with each other and each forward on the palate. It's consistent, and neither effect fades or flattens. It gets pretty creamy in the middle, actually, then some leafy dryness kicks into the finish.

T: Taste follows the nose. Very biscuity flavor. Some toffee notes along with some strong vanilla in the finish that coats the back of the throat...maybe even a little cinnamon back there. Some very minor piney hop notes on the sides of the mouth as well.

M: Silky, velvety mouthfeel. Medium-thin to medium bodied beer. Carbonation isn't very high, but it works well with this beer. Very easy drinking

O: A very tasty, easy drinking beer. Nuttier than most brown ales, in a good way. I like the hints of vanilla and cinnamon, appropriate for the season.